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The Rumpke Mountain Boys combine signature vocals, a unique command of string instruments (acoustic guitar, mandolin, upright bass and banjo) and dynamic special effects into a singular musical experience. An emotion filled musical stream of consciousness with no setlist, minimal structure, and intuitive improvisational flow. In this way, they summon the energy of the crowd as their guide in linking just the right music to precise moments in time.

Grateful Dead Hour host David Gans proclaimed, “One of the things I love about the Rumpke Mountain Boys is that there’s a fundamental honesty in their presentation. This is something they share with my other heroes, Donna the Buffalo and the Grateful Dead. They don’t make set lists ahead of time, they don’t rehearse their songs to a fare-thee-well– they perform in real time. All four of them write, which is very important, and they draw songs from a tremendous variety of sources… being a musician is a life-long learning experience, if you’re doing it right, and they are.”

Like playing around a campfire, the Boys take turns calling the next tune, distilling shows from a sea of infinite notes created from years of jamming. Drawing upon a growing catalog of originals and and an eclectic mix of covers, the Rumpke Mountain Boys blend music like a fine Irish whiskey– the result affectionately dubbed Trashgrass. The Boys titled their 2012 album release with the same name, followed by their 2013 release, Moon, which was recorded at the famed Royal Studios in Memphis followed by their current studio release, “High Time, Low Tide”. The band plans to release a double live album in 2018.

The Rumpke Mountain Boys have played festivals from coast to coast to ever growing audiences including Northwest String Summit, John Hartford Memorial Festival, Blue Ox, and Dark Star Orchestra’s own Dark Star Jubilee. They have played with artists such as Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dark Star Orchestra, Railroad Earth, Hot Tuna, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Larry Keel Experience, Kitchen Dwellers, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, Dave Bromberg, Del McCoury, Leon Russell, and Ralph Stanley all while continuously breaking new ground. All of this interaction and touring has the band firing on all cylinders. Now is the time to see the Rumpke Mountain Boys.